N/S Is Eli elite?
 

He is taking his team to 2 superbowls and has been clutch in just about every important game he plays. Yes the Giants defense helps their team, but Eli seem to get better Every year. Im not saying he's Brees elite, not even close, but I am starting to view him as an elite Qb. Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Rivers?, Eli.

Elite QBs elevate their teammates...I think Eli does that...Idk about rivers

Rivers is a question mark for me too, but I don't put big ben in there or Romo or anyone else. I left out Peyton because we don't know if he will play again. If I had to include him he would be in the top three and that top 3 will change up from year to year.

Eli is a good QB, but I don't think he's the reason the Giants are in the Superbowl, and he wasn't the reason they won it against the Pats.

I think Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Peyton Manning are the elite, with guys like Eli, Rivers, Stafford, Roethlisberger, Romo in the second tier.

Eli's moving on up though and will either join or replace Peyton in that top tier. Big Ben/Romo are on their way out ...

Yes you have to define what Elite is because it could mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

I look at it as if the player can go to any other team and start or could you win consistent and build your team around the guy and win a SB. But what the question really be... "IS HE A HALL OF FAME QB"?

You have to put Eli on the list.

Here is the really funny part about this is that if these 'reports' didn't start the argument/conversation on their show, and someone didn't ask Eli if he was elite then I think this debate probably would have never come up because Eli few under the radar. I mean he fits all the qualifiers that would make him a franchise QB. Being in the Shawdow of his brother hurts him to but when they asked him that question and he said yes. That really started all this. I mean how often does this conversation comes up about any other QB in the league... NONE.

Now, to answer the real questions... is he a Hall of Fame QB? Well lets see... he got his ticket punched when he went to the SB. Has one of the most amazing passes and catch on the biggest stage, check. Consistently won... 2 SB's - check.

Eli goes to the Hall of Fame.

I also think the question is more of a "Does he get into the Hall of Fame" in stead of elite really"

I don't know whether it was the way he came into the league, or being Peyton's younger brother...but there is definitely a polarization when it comes to Eli. Before Tebow, he was probably the most polarizing figure in the NFL. The thing that is the most puzzling is the desire of fans to determine whether he is "elite". Who cares?

I think the thing that really threw it over the top was when earlier in the week I saw someone, I think it was S Bayless, saying that he didn't look cool enough to be a pro QB. That took the cake for me.

I don't know about most polarizing... and 'who cares'? Apparently a lot of people because this topic comes up every day, every week...

You're right thought he doesn't look the part as one would imagine as an Elite or Hall of Fame QB. So it really should come down to is how he gets his ticket punch to the Hall of Fame. How does he not make it... how is he not elite.

Wow, another 'gem' by Skip Bayless ... how do some of these guys get their jobs?

So, if you define 'elite' by being able to start for any other team, win consistently, build a team around, make the players around him better and/or win a SB, would you put Stafford on the 'elite' list? He meets the criteria, other then the SB. I think he's in the second tier until he wins a SB. I'm just wondering what you guys think of Stafford, honestly ... constructive criticism is fine.

Eli Hall of Fame? Probably ... especially if he wins this SuperBowl, which I think puts him right up there with Brees/Brady/Rodgers/Peyton as best-of-the-best also. He's a 'character' guy.

Brees
Peyton
Brady
Eli
Rogers

He played all 16 games this past season so he shed his "often injured" tag and I was impressed when he came back to play in that game two season's ago after his shoulder was severely injured.

He threw for over 5000 yards. The future is bright for Lions fans.

The guy insprires. And he has won. Yep he is in there. ELIte

Yeah... not sure why Rivers name ever gets thrown in the mix. I'd compair him to Matt Ryan..... except he doesn't suck as hard

Elite is thrown on anyone who puts up good stats. But honestly, the ONLY "elite" QB's to me are:

Brees,
Brady,
Peyton,
Eli

If Rodgers pulls off another year like 2011, then he'll be solid in that category. Until then, he's just a stat monster to me. Same with Rivers (well, used to be I guess)

To answer the question... Yes Eli is elite.
Only thing that hampers him is his last name.

He's got a very good blood line and has grown better every year. I'll call him way above average or borderline elite.

Your name can't come up in the debate unless you win a SB.

See I think that is why his name comes up most in the argument is because he is right at the borderline.

But really this game is all about SB's and especially for QB's. There will be no debate once he gets his second ring next week.

so Dan Marino is not elite?

I think Stafford needs to put in a few more injury free seasons. He showed what he could do when healthy for the whole season and when he has played he has performed well. I think Stafford is going to be mentioned with the others on this list as long as he stays healthy.

Eli, Rivers, Stafford, Roethlisberger and Romo are in the second tier. Their getting there just not yet.

Eli is elite. He has the most 4th quarter TD's in a season in the history of the NFL to demonstrate his comeback skills. In SB42 when he avoided the sack and completed the 4th down pass to Tyree, that was amazing. He belongs in the elite class and after his second SB ring it should quiet the nay sayers.

Nope, Dan Marino is not elite.

He has some of the requirements but lacking the jewelry department.

Of course he is.

Its a team sport.

My own personal definition of "elite" is basically, first a guy who has mountains of very impressive stats, above and beyond the other QBs out there....and then the intangible part of it is, him being the guy who just WILLS his team to win, who makes stuff happen on the field almost by sheer willpower alone. And you can't keep him down. It's like an intangible, "if he wants it, he somehow finds a way to make it happen" type of thing. Things like Elway's "The Drive" or Brett Favre's crazy underhand "shuffle pass" or Brees using his footwork to extend plays, the ability to make plays in the clutch -- to me that is elite. And to me that quality is definitely Peyton, Brady, Brees, and Aaron Rodgers above the rest. And Eli is probably coming into that category, on the borderline, with all the 4th quarter comebacks he has etc.

Agreed, Eli is good and certainly is the luckiest QB in the league.

There's "ugly-elite" and there's elite.

He gets them there, but has an ugly way of doing it.

He's a Southern Boy, and that's okay in my book.

Alaska

Ok... I love the Mannings, ok? :

I think Eli looks like Gomer Pyle falling out of a tree, when he throws
sometimes.

Not everyone is a statue of Johnny Unitas.

Seriously, I dont know if we can really knock his form, because a lot of times his form happens because he is getting the royal poop knocked out
of him as he releases. Heres what I do know.

-- He wins. He finds a way to win.

-- He has guts. I couldnt stand in that pocket and take the beatings
Ive seen him take, then get up, call the play and stand in there again.
He should be ducking like Jim Everett by now, and yet he stands in there,
grits his teeth (or an assortment of contorted faces) and he delivers. Eli is a tough man.

-- He is smarter than his facial expressions. Eli has developed, and will continue to develop, possibly up to Peyton's level, mentally. His reads
should get better every year, and I think he'll eventually outsmart defenses. Nobody thinks he's carrying the Giants yet, but I think someday soon he will be.

Playing QB is not always pretty: A lot of great QBs are smarter than
their facial expressions:

http://media.advisorone.com/advisoro...John_AP_MI.jpg

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images...jpg?1290480699




http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairba...ToppsFront.jpg


http://joemontanasrightarm.files.wor...nningface2.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RhoiX9HEM_...est-gump-1.jpg

but Eli's tha Man(ning). Im rooting for him!

Unlike making the "Hall of Fame" where people are voted in on a body of work, "Elite" is subjective and comes down to personal fan preference. There is no NFL definition of what "Elite" is or means.

So who and what is "elite"? The sky is the limit.

Someone said it earlier... One thing is you gotta win the big one. Sorry Marino fans... and its just my opinion.

1. Gotta have a ring +1
2. Must be able to raise playing level of other people +1
3. And from Warren Sapp on No Huddle... Must be able to put the entire team on your shoulders and will them to win +1

Once again if Eli's last name was different being elite wouldn't be an issue.

2 superbowls = Elite QB. Plus, he's a Manning.

Yep!

Categorically.

I don't know if he is elite or not, but he has 2 rings and he is tough as he!!, during the 9'ers game he took a lot of shots and got up every time.

He may be elite...but he is the ugliest looking elite qb.(I am not talking about looks) I don't know what it is but his play is not awe inspiring.

I'm not sold on Elite, but its just another opinion.

I guess it depends on the specific criteria for Elite versus Great.

Yeah, I'd call him "Elite".

pretty much answers that question!

Yup

Brady
Brees
Peyton Manning
Eli Manning
Aaron Rodgers

Elite A QB's

Brees
Brady
P Manning
Rodgers

Elite B

Rothleshamburgerler
Stafford (Gonna be in the A catagory..very close)
E Manning
Newton (Lets face it; when you play against him, you worry about him)

Rivers; He is spotty at best. Just when you think you have to worry about him, BAM he blows the game. Then when you count him out, he plays like a mad-man.